Today is International Customs Day - and while no one ever wants to celebrate the tax collectors - that may not be the case anymore. Slowly, the Customs Department is trying to change its image from collector to business facilitator. This year's theme is "A secure business environment for economic development" - and that was underscored at the launching ceremony today at the Battlefield Park in Belize City:
Colin Griffith, Comptroller of Customs
"We continue to work vigorously to improve integrity in customs. As we build our relationship with the business community."
Hon. John Saldivar
"That there is a role for customs administration in creating the environment for economic development. Customs officials are our front line ambassadors along with immigration officials. Customs regulations are the second regulatory regime after immigration law that investors experience when coming to Belize. It is therefore imperative that we continue to improve this experience for importers and of course exporters."
Colin Griffith, Comptroller of Customs
"There is major change within customs administration throughout the world. While it has been in the past where customs administration used to have at the front end revenue collection, it has now shifted to trade facilitation. It is recognized that when you start to communicate with business and have consultations, to improve compliance, you get the same result as it was in the past in respect the revenue collection. That is what it is and also it is the intention to improve the cost of doing business which will then go down to the consumers."
After the ceremony certificates of merit were issued to customs officers and stakeholders quote, "who have been instrumental in contributing to the international customs community." 12 customs officers were honored.
Email
Print